Heribert Beissel »


opera conductor »
vocal accompanist and
chamber music »







guest performances »


Festivals »

Heribert Beissel studied with Günter Wand at the music conservatory in Cologne. He also studied piano and composition (Frank Martin). His secondary instrument was violin. After winning the first price in the competition for conductors, he began his career as opera conductor in Bonn. In addition to his conducting he worked as a vocal accompanist and participated in chamber music for several years, especially in recordings for the Westdeutscher Rundfunk Köln (WDR). For fourteen years he was principal conductor of the Hamburger Symphoniker. At the same time he was the artistic director of the Folkwang Chamber Orchestra in Essen.

During his years in Hamburg he often conducted in the Hamburg State Opera House and the NDR Sinfonieorchester, and presented a wide variety of works. The choirs of the NDR and SDR (Stuttgart) frequently invited Heribert Beissel for broadcasts and concerts.

Regular guest performances led him to North and South America, Asia, Australia, Israel and numerous european countries. In addition to being guest conductor with many german and foreign orchestras he has for several years been associated with the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra. The Festivals of Ansbach (Bach), Ravello (Wagner), Flandern, Schleswig-Holstein, Berlin (Festwochen), Bregenzer Frühling and Istanbul invited him as guest conductor or pianist.

Klassische Philharmonie Bonn »

Philharmonisches
Staatsorchester Halle »

Brandenburgisches
Staatsorchester Frankfurt »

Chur Cölnischer Chor Bonn »

Heribert Beissel founded and is still principal conductor of the Klassische Philharmonie Bonn. With this orchestra he performs since 1988 concert series in the twelve largest concert halls of Germany. From 1991 till 1999 he was General Music Director of the Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Halle (Sachsen-Anhalt). Heribert Beissel is founder and principal conductor of the Landesjugendorchester Sachsen-Anhalt. Since September 2001 he has been General Music Director of the Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt Oder. The orchestra bestowed upon him the title of “Honorary Conductor”.

The Chur Cölnischer Chor Bonn was founded and is conducted by Heribert Beissel.

recordings »



awards »

His large number of recordings encompass a wide range of musical periods and styles. His reputation has been enhanced by many radio broadcasts. Many music critics hail him as one of the leading conductors of his generation.

Heribert Beissel's musical interests are divided equally between opera and symphonic music. In connection with the Hamburger Symphoniker he received the Brahms-Medaille. He was recently awarded the Cross of the order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Heribert Beissel conducted the following orchestras:

Sinfonieorchester des NDR Hamburg - Radiophilharmonie Hannover - Sinfonieorchester des SDR Stuttgart - Berliner Symphoniker - Bamberger Symphoniker - Staatsorchester Bremen - Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Halle - Bachorchester des Gewandhauses Leipzig - Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg - Hamburger Symphoniker - Tokyo Symphony Orchestra - Symphony Orchestra Osaka - Nagoya Symphony Orchestra - Nationalorchester Brüssel - Beethovenorchester Bonn - Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt - Folkwang-Kammerorchester Essen - Philharmonisches Orchester Essen - Klassische Philharmonie Bonn - Georgisches Nationalorchester Tiflis - Sinfonieorchester Haifa - Philharmonisches Orchester Saloniki - Canberra Philharmony - Philharmonisches Orchester Dortmund - Stadtorchester Biel-Solothurn - Robert-Schumann-Philharmonie Chemnitz - Duisburger Symphoniker - Anhaltische Philharmonie Dessau - Philharmonia Hungarica - Niederrheinische Sinfoniker Krefeld-Mönchengladbach - Bergische Symphoniker Remscheid-Solingen - Staatsorchester Rheinische Philharmonie Koblenz - Orchester der Staatsoper Budapest - Bachorchester München